I rediscovered Natyasangeet recently and wanted to share some songs that have lodged themselves in my mind.

I do not recall from where I picked this track - a kind soul had uploaded this as a part of a collection. I cannot thank him enough wherever he is.

Pu La Deshpande had entered the entertainment world in the early ’40s as an actor and singer on the Marathi stage by joining Mo Ga Rangnekar’s Natya Niketan drama troupe. Paakhara jaa, the song he rendered in the play Vahini was an instant hit.

Here's a song from 'Maanapman' that was originally sung by Dinanath - and attached with it is the same track sung by Ashatai. It's a treat to hear them both sing their versions of 'Ravi Mee'.

I truly believe Ashatai has most carried the legacy of her father. She had been expressing a desire to sing Natyasangeet again in several interviews in the past. But I do not hear her saying that any more. I hope she does record some tracks again.

Interestingly, her song book that she carries for all her concerts today has Dinanath Mangeshkar's picture on the cover. Some may think it anachronistic; but to me it is fascinating to think that the lady standing there singing 'Sharara Sharara' and playfully matching steps with the dancers, can also deliver her father's Natyasangeet compositions with equal elan.

Hope you enjoy these songs.

Nice to see Bertie back in the groove...

Here are two of my favourite Naatyapads, sung by Vasantrao Deshpande.
1 Kar Ha Kari Dharila Shubhangi- from Sangeet Sanshaykallol. There is another version of this number, sung by Ajit Kadkade. Does anyone have it ?

2. Guljar Naar Hee Madhubala - from Sangeet Meghmalhar


-Dhananjay

That reminds me that i need to make a request...

1. Mriganayana Rasik Mohini

Jagdish,
Here you go.. This too, is from Sanshaykallol.


-Dhananjay

Now that's wat i call jet-age.... Thanks Dhananjay.

One of my favorites
ugavalaa chandra punavechaa by bakul pandit

enjoy!

Thanks for these lovely tracks, Dhananjay. You probably own one but I was trying to upload a 14 min live version of Yaa Bhavanatil Geet Purane by Vasantrao Deshpande before realising it is over the posting limit (of course!).

Here is 'Surat Piya Ki' from Katyar Kaaljaat Ghusali.

Hey Bertie,
Since you've mentioned about "posting limit", wonder if you've noticed that the limit for attachments has been raised to 20MB. So if the file-size is below this, you may upload it without any problem. It'll be nice to hear a live version of "Ya bhavanaatil" !!!
There's another Vasantrao Deshpande song that I've been looking for, "Bagalyaanchi maal phule ajuni ambaraat" (Not a naatya-pad though) ... Is there a chance you might have it ?

-Dhananjay.

I have that, but if you need it from Bertie, well, I dont want to intrude
I always thought it was a naaTya-sangiit. if not what is it? from a movie? who composed it?

on a side note, If I were a PG Wodehouse character I would like to be Psmith or Uncle Fred (a.k.a. Lord Ickenham)

Hey NM,
If you have it, you may upload it too. I have no special love for Bertie (just kidding Bert ). But honestly, the real fun is when more and more people contribute songs & share thoughts on these threads.
I've not known "Baglyaanchi Maal" to be a part of any Sangeet-Naatak. It was composed by Va. Ra. Kaant and written by Shreenivas Khale.
As for my favourite Wodehouse character, Jeeves always takes the cake !!! Would do anything to be him (even if that means going bald in my middle age )

-Dhananjay

oh I agree, I feel there are not enough marathi (songs loving) people on this forum. Let me see if I can induce some of my friends to join and add to the discussion.



Here it is

attachment extension changed to zip (not actual zip)

and now the lyrics

itrans thanks to Mr. niranjan peDaNekar

bagaLyaa.nchii maaLa phule
gaayak: vasa.ntaraav deshapaa.nDe

bagaLyaa.nchii maaLa phule ajunii a.nbaraat
bheT aapulii smarashii kaay tuu manaat
chheDitii paanaat biin the.nba paavasaache
olyaa raanaat phule uun abhrakaache
manakavaDaa ghan ghumato duur Do.ngaraat
tyaa gaaThii tyaa goshhTii naaraLiichyaa khaalii
paurNimaach tav nayanii bharadivasaa jhaalii
rimajhimate amR^it he vikal a.ntaraat
haataasah sonyaachii saa.nj gu.nphataanaa
bagaLyaa.nche shubhra taLe miLunii mojataanaa
kamalaaparii miTatii divas umalunii taLyaat
tuu geliis soDunii tii maaL sarva dhaage
phaDaphaDaNe pa.nkhaache shubhra ure maage
salate tii taDaphaD kaa kadhii tujhyaa uraat

devanagari

बगळ�यांची माळ फ�ले
गायक: वसंतराव देशपांडे

बगळ�यांची माळ फ�ले अज�नी अंबरात
भेट आप�ली स�मरशी काय तू मनात
छेडिती पानात बीन थेंब पावसाचे
ओल�या रानात फ�ले ऊन अभ�रकाचे
मनकवडा घन घ�मतो दूर डोंगरात
त�या गाठी त�या गोष�टी नारळीच�या खाली
पौर�णिमाच तव नयनी भरदिवसा �ाली
रिम�िमते अमृत हे विकल अंतरात
हातासह सोन�याची सांज ग�ंफताना
बगळ�यांचे श�भ�र तळे मिळ�नी मोजताना
कमलापरी मिटती दिवस उमल�नी तळ�यात
तू गेलीस सोड�नी ती माळ सर�व धागे
फडफडणे पंखाचे श�भ�र उरे मागे
सलते ती तडफड का कधी त���या उरात

NM,
Thanks a lot for the upload !!! It's one of my favourite Marathi numbers !!!

-Dhananjay

Bertie, why do you keep vanishing?

Any more natyageete?

Or any farmaishes? If I have any, I'll upload them

Hey Madrake,

Thanks for remembering me and making me move my lazy u-know-what and post out here.

You'll be aware that Kumar Gandharva had covered Balgandharva's Natyageete in the album 'Mala Umajlele Balgandharva'. Though I believe he made it abundantly clear in the title itself that it was his interpretation of Balgandharva, from what I recall, this effort was not looked upon favorably at that time by the purists. But I have always loved his versions of some of these natyapada.

On your third question, I truly don't know what to ask, since I don't recall Natyapada easily. It's when I hear one, that I recollect where I'd heard it before and hum it for days after till a new one gets uploaded. But anything from Ashatai will be greatly appreciated.

~

Mala Madan Bhase Ha by Kumar Gandharva
from Kakasaheb Khadilkar's Manapmaan

Another of my fav Natyageet. 'Nabha Meghanni Akramile' as sung by Prabhakar Karekar.

Here's one by Asha Khadilkar. I've always adored her silken voice. It's her voice that renders an upbeat mood to this Naatyapad.
Naatak : Dhaadila Ram tine ka vani"
Pad : "Aale re bakul phula"......

-Dhananjay

This is a great track. Thanks for uploading. I was watching one of the 'Nakshtaranche Dene' program on Zee. You know one thing that struck me was that she seemed to stress out when singing ... meaning it looked like an effort on her part. Just an observation ... doesn't take anything away from her rendition. I just like it when singers seem at ease when singing.

Oh Oh.. I seemed to have missed that performance... What episode of "Nakshatraanche Dene" was that ?
My memories of her singing date back to the 80s (good ol' Mumbai Doordarshan !!). Haven't seen her perform after that. I believe she was at her prime during the 80s and faded away subsequently. With the advent of satellite/cable tv, the more classical art forms fell out of public prominence... Also the Marathi theatre saw the rise of more "easy going" plays - farcical comedies became the order of the day. So it's fairly possible that the stalwarts of the Sangeet-Naatak era would have lost their touch ( To me, it's also true for the other prominent figures like Bhalchandra Pendharkar, Ashalata, the Shiledar family etc.).
Does that sound like a reasonable explanation ?

-Dhananjay

Hi folks,
Here's responding to Bertie's wish for Ashatai numbers !!! These are the ones, I possess :

From Sangeet Manaapamaan
1. Chandrika Hi Janu
2. Kathin Kathin Kathin Kiti
3. Premseva Sharan

From Sangeet Randumdubhi
1. Jagi Ha Khaas Vedyancha
2. Marmabandhatil Thev Hi
3. Paravashata Paash Daive

Lemme know if you'd like any/all of these uploaded....

-Dhananjay

On Dhananjay-saab's request. However, I don't think Ustad Abdul Karim Khan had sung them as pure 'natyageets'. He just sought to use the bandishes to render his delectable khayals. Anyway, with that kind of a voice, whatever he did was music. Notice how his sargams are beautiful adaptations from the Carnatic style.

I do not have the Ustaad's 'nach sundari karu kopa'. There was this cassette that I had heard which had 6 songs of Ustaad and 6 by her able daughter, Hirabai Barodekar based on natyasangeet. I had heard the song there. Worth it's weight in gold.

Regards-Archie.

P.S. The raag-names are put as they appear on the labels of the 78 rpm records. I personally do not think that 'chandrika jhanu' is based on raag 'devgandhar'. It sounds more like raag 'Aarbi' to me. Devgandhar is more similar to a 'jaunpuri with a beautifully placed shuddh gandhar. An example would be K L Saigal's 'jhulana jhulaao'.

thanks for prem sevaa sharaN and chandrika hii jaNuu. (didnt have those)

and hirabai baDodekar is his daughter? really, or do you mean desciple?

Here are two that I have

4:25 @96 and 4:24 @96

Both Hirabai and Roshanara Begum are supposed to be his daughters. AFAIK, Hirabai never learnt directly from him: she learnt from Abdul Wahid Khan and from her brother, Sureshbabu Mane.

Warm regards,
Abhay

Abdul Karim was the court singer of Sayajiao Gaekwad of Baroda and used to sing there with is younger brother Abdul Haq Khan. He fell in love with Tarabai, a lady who resided inside the palace and was related in some way to the Maharani. Obviously marriage and elopement had to go hand in hand and hence the couple, and Abdul Haq reached Miraj.

The couple had five children - 2 boys and 3 girls. The eldest was Abdul Rehman. Then Champutai, Gulaab, Abdul Hamid and Chotutai.

Later, when Tarabai and Abdul Karim separated, the children went with their mother and the hindu names came up - namely - Sureshbabu Mane, Hirabai Barodekar, Kamlabai, Papa and Saraswati Rane respectively. Kamlabai was an average natyasangeet singer while Papa was the manager of Sureshbabu and Hirabai's theatre troupe. He was also, supposedly, the most talented of the lot but lack of determination and 'taalim' spoilt his career.

Abhay, you are correct about Hirabai's 'taalim' bit. She was easily the most accomplished and popular amongst the five.

Abdul Haq, who died an untimely death in Miraj, was the father of Roshan-ara Begum.

All these are heresay and I'm attempting to bring these forward to the best of my knowledge. Ready to be clarified.

Regards-Archie.

when i was in school, i had a prose in marathi (dhadaa) by prabha atre.
she is disciple of hirabai and sureshbabu.
i don't remember exactly what she had to say.
but i shall find it and post it here.

prabha atre has written a book? her biography or something?
Her tan man dhan tope vaaru is heavenly. ( I think I just love kalaavatii if thats what it is)

thank you very much for 'nacho sundari karu kopa'.

regards-archie.

i think she has written a book- "swaramayi"
will find out the details.

Archie / NM,
Thanks for your uploads....It's quite a treat !!! The information poured in by Archie and Abhay was quite interesting too.


Arre Archie, yeh "saab" ka kya chakkar hai ? (As it is my name is so long.. why do you want to add 4 more letters ?? )

I have the following versions of these songs :

1. prem seva sharan - Dinanath Mangeshkar
2. chandrika hi janu - Prabakar Karekar
3. nach sundari karu kopa - Two separate versions - One by Chhota Gandharv and the other by Prabhakar Karekar

Let me know if anyone would like these ......

-Dhananjay

Archimoz, 007 ,
Mandali. Namaskar
Hya uttam Ul karita shatashaa dhanyawad

Keshav

Yes Dhananjay. Dinanath's 'prem seva' and Karekar's 'nach sundari', please. At your convenience.

Thanks a lot.

Regards-Archie.

Please do upload these, especially both versions of the last one. It is interesting to compare the renditions of these two singers: for instance, in "priye pahaa", CG seems to be cajoling his beloved, while PK seems to be ordering *his* beloved: "*look* at that dawn!"

While on the topic, I have CG's version of "priye pahaa" but am hunting for a decent recording of Karekar's version. Would anyone oblige?

Warm regards,
Abhay

I never noticed that .... possibly because I never happened to hear these versions together (Not as if I would spot the difference even then ).
Here are the songs from the list :

LOL, nice description. te kuThalyaa naaTakaatale aahe? MD koN?

Abhay you HAVE to do a program on naaTyasangiit. I can provide many songs but I havent heard them all. You can pick them with nice commentary.

6:19 @96 enjoy!

thanks!! dhananjay ani nm!!

Just realized that I also have a version of "Prem seva sharan" by Vasantrao Deshpande...

Thank you for the upload - you made my day!

If your question relates to priye pahaa, then the answer is "Saubhadra" - the same play that has "nach sundarii". Not sure who the MD is - must find out.

As to the program on natyasangeet - two caveats: one, I am not a very big fan of all natyasangeet - I like it selectively depending on who's singing it, because the repetitive patterns that typify this genre can get extremely boring in the hands of lesser singers; two, my knowledge about the genre is very limited - if I can manage to put together something that is meaningful, will definitely take this up.

Warm regards,
Abhay

priye pahaa...

i remember listening to this song live in Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav.
some 7/8 years ago, Prabhakar Karekar had appeared in mahotsav.
after he sang some late might raag, audiance requested him to sing
priye pahaa.
He politely declined saying that Sawai was purely classical programme.
but we somehow persuded him to sing it.
it was almost 5 am when it started and he got 2 once mores.
it was first and only time i heard him live but that rendition
is still lingering in my mind.

QUOTE(abhayp @ Apr 9 2006, 10:57 PM)

If your question relates to priye pahaa, then the answer is "Saubhadra" - the same play that has "nach sundarii". Not sure who the MD is - must find out........Abhay

Baal Samant's fat book 'Marathi Natyasngeet' gives lyrics and many other details of the songs.

The music of Saubhadra was by the writer Balvant Pandurang (Annasaheb) Kirloskar himself, just as his first play 'Sangeet Shakuntal', and later 'Ramrajyaviyog'. He was a versatile person.

'Saubhadra' has 98 songs - many of them being 2 liners - with standard tunes, as it is done in many 'keertans'. Usually the dialogues are musical. 'Sangeet Shakuntal' has massive 211 songs !!. The books of many of such plays were and are available. These openly mention the source cheez of the tune before every song.

Many of the important songs were based on some classical rachanas (cheezas), or Karnataki, Punjabi, northen songs, thumris and other light classical compositions etc. 'Priye Pahaa' happens to be in the Raga Deskar - very similar to Bhoopali.

This means many of he prominent songs were written after the tune was fixed or selected, just like in modern films.

Govind Ballal Deval also gave tunes to his own songs (Samshay Kallol, Sharada etc.) Although other Play writers did not compose ownmusic, they had good knowlede of it.

'Swayamvar' had 148 songs and 'Maanapman' (only) 54 songs.

Krishnaji Prabhakar Khadilkar's 'Maanapman' had music by Govindrao Tembhe. and his other plays 'Swayamvar' 'Draupadi' 'Savitri'. 'Vidyaharan' had music by Pt Bhaskar buva Bakhle - Guru of Baalgandharva, Master Krishnarao and many others. Ékach Pyala' had music by Master Krishnarao.

These men also could create their own cheeza's in various raagaas or could modify standard ones to adapt to the stage / story situations. For the plays they rarely composed new music and based songs on the ready cheezas.

In later plays - after 1945 the number of songs in the plays got reduced and there were more original compostions.

Wonderful up-loads & posts. Thank you very much.

I'm a hard-core bengali and even after 12 years in Bombay, cannot speak or comprehend the Marathi-language fully. But ever since my child-hood days in a small town in Bengal, the voices of D V Paluskar, Abdul Karim Khan, Kesarbai, Moghubai, Gangubai, Sawai Gandharva, Narayanrao Vyas, Vinayakrao Patwardhan, Basavraj Rajguru, Kumar Gandharava, Bhimsen Joshi, Mallikarjun Mansur, Manik Verma (Dadarkar), Padmavati Shaligram (Gokhale), Sharadchandra Arolkar, Krishnarao Shankar Pandit etc. have fascinated me for their crushing sonority & fervour of their gayaki. It is only later that I realised that ALL the singers, irrespective of their Gharana, hailed from (or settled in) the Maharashtra-Karnataka belt. Since then, to me, this region is God's preferred region for Classical & semi-Classical Hindusthani music.

And then, of course, you have those two sisters from Mangeshi.......

Regards-Archie.

anilkumar saheb, thank you for the info!
May be you and Abhay should create the naaTyasangiit program for us. (The program may not have wide apeal, but to a few regulars here, it would be very exciting)

(also can I gently remind you about the remining 2-3 songs from movie bhau-biij? )

24 Carat Gold Thread. Hats off to you friends.

The original/inspiration of "gagan sadan tejomay" from the original Mangeshakar

2:58 @96

dhanyawaad!!!

original mangeshkar kharech original hote.

hridayanath uses his own tunes many times in different songs.
i think it is better than lifting up from other director's works.
his father's songs have inspired him a lot.

like dyaghana turned out to be rasullalah
and 'jiwalaga, rahile re' is hoon jo gayi..

shanta shelke has told a story about this song- jiwalaga..
she had written song as

rahile re door ghar majhe
paul thakale mathyavarati jad jhale ojhe..

hridaynath asked her to put word "jiwalaga" in the beginning.
and it made that song sound more beautiful.

I am new to Hamara Forums. I have heard that the inspiration for "Gagan Sadan Tejomay" was "prem seva sharan" by Dinanath Mangeshkar. Hence I want to download and listen to it. However, I don't know how to download it from the forum. Can you please help me?

I have heard that "prem seva sharan - Dinanath Mangeshkar" in itself is based on some bandish. Do you have any information about it? Would really appreciate if you could give information on it or even better if I could download it somehow.

Thanks,
Shashibhushan